February 2020
My Request
Back in 1929, the government led by Sir Mirza Ismail constituted an advisory committee that was to give suggestions for bettering the political system. K.R. Srinivasa Iyengar, the former councillor, was the chair of the committee. I rendered a writing that objected the report prepared by the Committee. In my writing, I had said that the current government should give a statement that its main focus currently would be to form a...
“A male horse gives birth to foals”:
जानेऽहं घनसलिलाकरस्य गर्भे
जीवालिः प्रविलसतीत्यनूह्यरीतिः।
तत्रैषाऽद्भुतघटनाऽपि सत्यमेव
ह्यश्वोऽसौ निजतनयान् स्वयं प्रसूते॥[1]
I know that the ocean is home to numerous intriguing creatures. In it, a surprising truth awaits: a seahorse gives birth to foals.
The solution is a novel one in that it is based on a biological fact.
“A child witnessed its own birth”:
कंसादिदैत्यशमनाय कृतावतारः
कारागृहे शिशुतया...
Upon hearing Dharmarāja's request, asking them to stay back in the kingdom, Dhṛtarāṣṭra replied – “Son, my heart has turned towards tapas. It has come down to us as a family tradition to take to the forest at a ripe old age like ours. You all have taken care of us well. I am now old. Please let me go!”
Addressing Vidura, Sañjaya, Kṛpa and the others who had surrounded him, he said – “Please ask Dharmarāja to permit me to go. I feel dull. My...
“Crescent moon appears on Śiva’s neck”:
उमानर्मविलासोद्यन्नखरक्षतहेतुना।
ग्रीवायामर्धचन्द्रोऽसौ चन्द्रचूडस्य दृश्यते॥[1]
Caught in throes of love, Umā adorned her husband with her nail-mark. It appears like the crescent moon on Śiva’s neck.
The challenge has taken up two whole lines, necessitating the solution to be pithy. Fulfilling this requirement admirably, the poet has composed a single long compound as the solution. The beauty of the...
Sarcasm
I remember very little of that argument. Whenever I remember this behaviour of Sheenanna, I feel disappointed and worried. Why did he behave like that? The sarcasm that was never found in his father, mother, and brothers, where did he get it from? Some of the incidents in his life might have soured his mind .
I have earlier mentioned about his behaviour during the travel to Tirupati. Sheenanna was not a person without having a mistress....
Edwin Montagu
In matters connected with politics and the social relationships, Sastri wanted to make sure that his speech was clear, credible and did not lead to debates later on. Under such (rare) circumstances, Sastri put in a lot of thought and prepared himself for his lecture, ensuring that the content was accurate. In about 1933, a statue of a person called Edwin Montagu was erected in Bombay. Montagu was a minister appointed by the...
The Pāṇḍavas after winning over their enemies, were ruling the vast kingdom under the guidance of Dhṛtarāṣṭra. Sañjaya, Yuyutsu and Vidura were taking care of the health and well-being of Dhṛtarāṣṭra. The Pāṇḍavas always consulted Dhṛtarāṣṭra for all their needs and their wives such as Draupadī and Subhadrā were guided by Gāndhārī. They treated their uncle and aunt with great love and tried to ensure that they could provide as much comfort as...